Sound reproducer



Dec. 14, 1926. 1510,42?

P. LICOUGHLIN SOUND REPRODUGER Filed Dec. 8, 1924 INVENT OR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. was. i

UNHTED STATES PTEN OFF-I PATRICK L. COUGHLIN, 'OF CLEVELANIDQOHIO, ASSXG-NOB GE 01 IETHTEDT0 JOHN GEORGE WANDER-SCHEID, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SOUND REPRODUGER.

Application filed December a, 192.4. seriaino. 754,514.

My invention relates to sound reproducers having a vibratable diaphragm and a soundspace.

One of the objects of my invention is a simple, inexpensive, and efiicient sound reproducer.

Another object is a sound reproducer having a sound-space which produces the most voluminous and clear sounds.

Another object is a sound reproducer which is free from foreign sounds.

Another object is a sound reproducer having an air tight sound-space to prevent leakage of sound vibrations.

Another object is a sound reproducer hav- .ing the sound-space thereof defined or inclosed by hard and smooth walls as far as possible to prevent the sound vibrations from contacting the soft insulating material as far as possible and thereby produce louder and better sounds.

Another object is a sound reproducer having the base thereof formed with means for reducing the vibrations therein to prevent this base from introducing foreign vibrations into the sound-space.

ing means to evenly adjust the diaphragm in relation to the sound-space. I

Anotherobject is a sound reproducer having the members thereof insulated from each other and held in position without screws or similar means.

In sound reproducers of the; character under consideration, it is desirable that the sound-space is air tight and has hard and smooth walls as far as possible, that the sound-space is proportioned to produce the most voluminous and clear sounds, and that the structure around this sound-space is as free from vibrations as possible so that no foreign vibrations are introduced into this sound-space by this structure.

The present invention aims to accomplish the desirable features, indicated above, in the most economical and eiiicient manner.

In .the accompanying drawing I have shown two styles of sound reproducers, each embodying the features of my invention.

' In this accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sound reproducer, embodyingthe features of my invention, partly in section to clearly show the relations of the parts.

Fig. 2 is a vperspective view of the base of Fig. 1 showing clearly the particular '6 showing clearly a groove means adapted to take up thewrinkles formed in the insulating band when the same is held to the bevel surface by the cap.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another type of sound reproducer also embodying the features of my invention, partly in sec tion to clearly show the relations of the parts.

Fig. 7 is a perspective'view of the cap of Fig. 6, partly in section to clearly show the formation of this particular cap.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the views. Another ob ect 1s asound reproducer hav Each of the sound reproducers shownin the accompanying drawing is composed of the base A, the insulation B and C, the cap D, the diaphragm E, the support sleeve F,

the sound-space G, and the stylus arm H.

In order. to provide a hard and smooth wall for the sound-space, I prefer to construct the base A of glass or other similarmaterial. V

The hub 10 of the base A has the opening 11 and the circumferential groove 12. The flange 13 of the base A has the beveled outer circumferential surface 14 and also has the beveled annular surface 15 and a depressi'on ending in the wall 16 and defining one wall of thesound-space G. i

It is observed that the surface 14 of each style of base shown is beveled. The beveled surface 14 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is of the usual bevel required in the mold to remove themolded base therefrom while the beveled surface 14 shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is more pronounced. The purpose of this bevel is" will appear presone being concave and the other convex, I

have found that this surface, when beveled either convex or concave, produces a much better air tight joint when the reproducer is assembled than a flat face. The convex surface shown in Fig. 6 also has the additional advantage of improving the sound-space as will appear presently.

It is observed that the wall 16 shown in Fig. 1 is straight and that the wall 16 shown in Fig. 6 is curved; in either case the depth of the sound-space increases progressively from the inner edge of the annular surface toward the opening 11.

In order to produce voluminous and clear sounds, I have found that the sound-space should be defined by hard and smooth walls as far as possible. The concave annular surface 15 shown in F 1, although advantageous in other respects, defines the outer edge of the sound-space G by the inner edge of the insulation 13 which is not a hard and smooth edge and therefore has some deadening effect on the sound waves in the soundspace. I improve the sound-space G by providing the convex surface 15 shown in Figs. 5 and 6 so that the inner edge 1? is disposed close to the diaphragm E, thereby defining the sound-space more completely by hard and smooth walls.

As is well known in the art, a sound reproducer should be made as light in weight as possible but should have suflicient mass to prevent vibrations therein which would effect the tone reproduced. In order to reduce weight, I make the flange 18 of the base A comparatively thin and in order to counteract vibrations which may be set up in the material of the flange 13, I provide a rib means on the back of the flange 13. In the present instance, this rib means comprises the annular rib 18 and the radial ribs 18 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The object of this rib means is to reduce the vibrations in the material of the flange 13: other expedients may be used to accomplish or attain this object.

In order to anchor the insulation B on the surface 14:, I provide a groove means in this surface. In the present instance, this groove means comprises the circular groove 19 extending all the way around in the surface 14.

In order to take up the wrinkles which may be formed in the insulation B when a plain insulation tube is clamped onto the bevel surface 1 1, I augment the circular groove 19 by the longitudinal grooves 20 (Fig. 5) so that the wrinkles can ledge therein.

The insulation washer 21, made of material which is adapted to insulate vibrations of adjacent parts and is somewhat resilient such asrubber. is disposed over the hub 10 and rests against the back of the flange 13.

The insulating tube 22, made of material similar to the washer 21, is disposed over the hub 10.

The support sleeve F, made of metal in the present instance, comprises the tubular portion 23 and the reduced tubular portion 2%. The end of a tone-arm shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, is disposed within the portion 24: and the reproducer is held to this end 25 by the screw 33. This portion 23 is forced over the insulation 22 thereby securing the sleeve F to the hub 10. hen the portion 23 is so forced over the insulation 22, some of the material of this tube 22 enters the groove 12 and thereby anchors this tube on. the hub 10. Suiiicient friction is created between the tube 22 and the portion 23, by this forcing over process, to hold the sleeve F on the hub 10.

In order to provide an air tight joint at the surface let as well as between the face 15 and the diaphragnn E, I provide, in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, a cup shaped insulation band B shown in detail in 3. This band ll. made of material similar to the washer 21, comprises the tubular portion 26 fitting over the surface 1st and the radial portion 27 resting againstthe face 15. The outer surface of the portion 27 is rounded or arcuate to form a better seat for the diapln'agin to rest upon.

In. the arrangement shown in Fig. (3, the insulation band B comprises a straigl'it tube made of material similar to the washer 21. One end of this tube extends over the surface 14 while the other end projects forward beyond the flange 13 to insulate the diaphragm E from the cap D.

The cap I), made of metal in this instance, has the tubular portion 28 and the radial flange portion 29. A pair of ears 30 are provided on the cap D to support the stylus arm H. These ears 30 may be spaced and arranged as most convenient to the particular stylus arm used. No claim is made in this application to any stylus arm or to any particular means for supporting a stylus arm. It is understood that a suitable stylus arm is included in the claims although none is mentioned therein.

The insulation C, made of material similar to the washer 21, is formed of a tube compressed to the form shown when the reproducer is assembled.

It is observed that the cap of Fig. 1 is split radially in one place and has one )air of ears 31 adjacent this split while the cap shown in 6 is split radially in two places thereby dividing); the same into two 1o: nod

phrag'm and the depression.

or otherwise damaged, while it is sprung over the band B, I prefer to split the cap as shown in Fig. 7. 7

In Fig". 6, the insulation C is duplicated on each side'of the diaphragm.

The screw 32 is threaded into one of the ears 31.

When the parts are assembled, as seen either in Fig. 1 or in Fig. 6, and the screw 32 is tightened, the tubular portion 28 of the cap D tends to slide backward due to the bevel surface 14 and thereby also moves the radial flange 29 backward. This backward movement of the cap I) has a tendency to compress the insulation C more firmly upon the diaphragm and also to compress the insulation B and thereby firmly holds the diaphragm in position and at the same time produces'an air tight joint there and prevents vibrations of diaphragm from being transmitted to the base orfrom the base to the diaphragm.

By tightening or loosening the screw 32, a very delicate adjustment of the diaphragm can be attained and this adjustment is al ways even becauseth-e cap moves backward and forward bodily and evenly all around on the radial flange 13,

In both illustntio'ns of my invention, the depression in the base A is shown as progressively increasing in depth from the inner edge of the annular surface 15 to the edge of the opening 11. This arrangement produces very voluminous and clear sounds in many instances.

It is believed that the foregoing is sufii- 'ci'ently clear and definite to enable others to fully understandiny invention.

I am aware that modifications, other than thoseshown and described and pointed out, may be made within the scope of'the appended claims; therefore, without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangements of elements shown and described and pointed out,

1. A sound reproducer comprising, a base having a flange provided with rib means on the back thereof, and a diaphragm held to the front of said flange and spaced therefrom to provide a sound space between the diaphragm and the flange.

2. A sound reproducer comprising, a base composed of a hub having an opening therethrough and of a fiangehaving rib means on the back thereof and a depression in the front thereof, said depression being of' different depths at different portions thereof,

and a diaphragm spaced from said depression to form a sound space between the dia 3. A sound reproducer comprising, a base having an ani'iul'ar flange provided with groove means in the outer circumferential surface thereof, insulation over the outer ciraround the outer circumferential surface thereof, insulation'over the outer circumferential surface of said flange and anchored in said groove, a diaphragm in front of the front face of said flange, and a cap over said insulation and provided with an inwardly extending flange to retain said diaphragm in position.

5. A sound reproducer comprising, a basehaving a hub provided with groove means in the outer circumferential surface thereof, insulation tube over aid hub and anchored in said groove means, a sleeve over said insulation for supporting the reproducer on a tone-arm free of contact with said base, and a diaphragm spaced from the front face of said base to form a sound space between the diaphragm on the front face of said base;

6. A sound reproducer comprising, a base havingahub provided with a circumferen tial groove in the outer circumferential surface thereof, insulation over said hub and anchored in saidgroove, a sleeve over said insulation for supporting the reproducer on a tone-arm free of contact with said base, and a diaphragm spaced from the front face of said base to form a sound spac'ebetween the diaphragm and the front face'of'said base. 7. As a new article of manufacture, a

sound reproducer comprising, a base composed of a hub provided with groove means in thejo'uter circi'iniferential surface thereof and of an annular flange provided with groove means the outer circumferential free'of contact with said flange, an insulation band over the outer circumferential surface of said flange and anchored in sand groove means thereof, a diaphragm in front .of the front face of said flange, and'a cap over said insulation band and provided with an inwardly extending flange, to retain said diaphragm in positio 1 8-. As a new article of manufacture, a sound reproducer comprising, a base composed of a hub provided with groove means in the outer circumferential surface thereof and of an annular flange provided with groove means in the outer circumferential surface thereof and with a depression in the front face thereof, an msulation tube over sald hub and anchored in said groove means thereof and extending part over said flange, a sleeve over said insulation tube for supporting the reprodueer on a tone-arm free of contact with said flange, an insulation band over the outer circumferential surface of said flange and anchored in said groove means thereof, a diaphragm in front of the front face of said flange, and a cap over said insulation band and provided with an inwardly extending flange to retain said diaphragm in position.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a sound reproducer comprising, a base composed of a hub provided with groove means in the outer circumferential surface thereof and of an annular flange provided with rib means on the back thereof and with groove means in the outer circumferential surface thereof and with a depression in the front face thereof, an insulation tube over said hub and anchored in said groove means thereof and extending part way over said flange, a sleeve over said insulation tube for supporting the reproducer on a tonearm free of contact with said flange, an insulation band over the outer circumferential surface of said flange and anchored in said groove means thereof, a diaphragm in front of the front face of said flange, and a cap over said insulation band and provided with an inwardly extending flange to retain said diaphragm in position.

10. A sound reproducer comprising, a base having a flange, the front face of said flange composed of an annular face to form an abutment for a diaphragm supporting means and of a depression of uneven dept-h Within this annular face, and a diaphragm spaced from said front face to form a sound space between said diaphragm and said front face.

11. A sound reproducer comprising, a base having a flange, the front face of said flange composed of a bevel annular surface to form an abutment for a diaphragm supporting means and of a depression Within this annular surface, and a diaphragm spaced from said front face to form a sound space between the diaphragm and said front face.

12. A sound reproducer comprising, a base having a flange, the front face of said flange composed of a bevel annular surface and a depression within this annular surface, insulation means resting on said annular sun face, a diaphragm resting on said insulation means and spaced from said depression by said insulation means, an insulation ring esting on said diaphragm, and a cap having an inwardly extending flange bearing against said insulation ring to hold said diaphragm in position.

13. A sound reproducer comprising, a base having an annular flange, the outer circum ferential surface of said flange being beveled, a diaphragm in front of the front end of said flange, and a split cap disposed over said front face when this screw is tightened or loosened.

15. A sound reproducer comprising, a base having an. annular flange, the outer circumferential surface of said flange being beveled, a diaphragm in front of said flange, a resil ent insulation on each side of the outer edge of sait diaphragm, a cap dispi d over the bevel surface of said flange i split radially and provided with ears adiacent the split: and with means for con uniting the outer of said resilient insulac and a screw through said ears to move said cap backward and thereby force said contacting means against the outer of l resilient insulations when this screw is 'htened.

it. A sound reproducer comprising, a base having an annular flange, the outer circumferential surface of said flange being beveled, a tubular insulation band on said bevel surface, a cap provided with a conical tubular )ortion extending over said insulation band, the outer circumferential surface of said flange provided with groove means to take up the wrinkles formed in said insulation band when said conical tubular portion is forced over the same, and a diaphragm held in position in front of said flange.

17. A sound reproducer comprising, a base having an annular flange, the outer circumferential surface of said flange being beveled, a tubular insulation band on said bevel surface, a cap ha 'ing a conical tubular portion extending over said insulation band, means for taking up the wrinkles formed in said band when said conical portion is superimposed over said band, and a diaphragm held in position in front of said flange.

18. A sound reproducer comprising, a base having an annular flange, an insulation band composed of a tubular portion extending over the outer circun'iferential surface of said flange and of a radial portion abutting the outer edge of the front face of said flange and the front surface of this radial portion being arcuate, a diaphragm resting against the arcuate surface of said radial portion, and a cap over said insulation band to hold said diaphragm in position;

19. A sound reproducer comprising, a base having an annular flange, insulation means over the outer circumferentialsurface of said flange, a cap over said insulation means, said cap being split radially and provided with means for clamping this cap over said insulation means, and a diaphragm held in position between the front face of said flange and an abutment means on said cap.

20. As a new article of manufacture, a sound reproducer comprising, a base composed of a hub and of an annular flange, insulation means over the outer circumferential surface of said hub and anchored thereon, a sleeve over said insulation means and insulated from said base and from said flange, insulation means over the outer circumferential surface of said flange, a cap over the last mentioned insulation means and extending forward of said radial flange and provided with a flange on the forward end thereof, a diaphragm forward of the front'end of said annular flange, insulation means between said diaphragm and the front face of said flange, insulation means between said diaphragm and the inner face of said radial flange of the cap, means for tightening said cap over said insulation means on the annular flange of the base, and means on said cap for supporting a stylus arm.

21. As a new article of manufacture, a sound reproducer comprising, a base composed of a hub and of an annular flange, a sleeve over said hub and insulated therefrom and from said flange and provided with means for supporting the reproducer on a tone-arm, the front face of said annular flange being formed with an uneven depression, a cap over the outer circumferential surface of said flange and insulated therefrom and extending forward of the front face thereof and provided with a radial flange on the forward end thereof, a diaphragm forward of the front face of said annular flange and insulated from said cap and from said annular flange and from said radial flange of the cap, means for securing said cap to said annular flange, and means on said cap for supporting a stylus arm.

22. As a new article of manufacture, a sound reproducer comprising, a base composed of a hub and of an annular flange provided with rib means on the back therei of, a sleeve over said hub and insulated therefrom and from said flange and provided with means for supporting the reproducer on a tone-arm, the front face of said annular flange beingformed with an uneven depression, a cap over the outer circumferential surface of said annular flange and insulated therefrom and extending forward of the front face thereof and provided with a radial flange on the forward end thereof, a diaphragm forward of the front face of said annular flange and'insulated from said cap and from said annular flange and from said annular flange of the cap, means for securing said cap to said radial flange, and means for supporting a stylus arm on said cap.

23. A sound reproducer comprising, a base, a cap on said base and split radial- 1y, a diaphragm between said base and said cap and said diaphragm being adjustable away from and toward said base by increas- 'ing or decreasingthe width of the split in said cap.

PATRICK L. COUGHLIN. 

